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What can I do about identity theft?

Identity theft is more prevalent than ever. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 9 million Americans have their identity stolen every year. An identity thief can ruin your credit. Fortunately there are laws in place to protect you if your identity gets stolen. If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, you can alert the credit bureaus. The credit bureaus will then put a fraud alert on your file so that any pulling your credit report will see the fraud alert. You can also request that the credit bureaus place a freeze on your credit, thus preventing most creditors from accessing your credit report entirely.

If there is specific information on your report that you believe is a result of identity theft, you can request that the credit bureau block that information from your account. You will need to provide the credit bureau with a police report showing that you have reported the identify theft. You will also need to provide proof of your identity, identify the information to be blocked, and provide a statement that the information is not related to any transaction involving you. Once the credit bureau receives that information, the bureau is required within four business days to block the information.

If you believe that you have been a victim of identity theft and that it has affected your credit, our law firm may be able to help. Contact us today.